Tag: society

Adoption is the legal process through which a child becomes part of a new family.It is intended to provide the child permanence and security.The CFSA (Child and Family Services Act) regulates the adoption of children in Ontario and protects the rights of everyone involved in an adoption; the child, the child’s birth parents and the adoptive parents.

Are you thinking of adopting a child?

Parents who adopt must be mature and flexible to meet the needs of children who come from a variety of backgrounds.They may also need to develop awareness and special skills so the child feels comfortable in their new family.When you contact the CAS about adoption you will be provided with an information package and subsequently an adoption worker will attend your home to discuss the process and answer any questions you might have.If you decide to proceed, a Home Study will be conducted.Participation in training is required.Working through this process assists in the decision whether adoption is right for you and what type of child best fits into your family.

Are you thinking about placing your child for adoption?

It may help to discuss your options with a CAS worker to make the best plan for your child.The decision is still yours, whether you keep your child or choose adoption.

About Adoption Disclosure

In May 2008, the Ontario legislature passed an adoption information disclosure law called “Access to Adoption Records Act, 2008” which gives adopted adults and birth parents more rights to information and privacy through the Adoption Disclosure Register.

For more information about adoption, please call the CAS-HN at 519-587-5437 or 1-888-CAS-KIDS to speak to an adoption worker; or visit the Ministry of Children and Youth website at: www.children.gov.on.ca

Helping Children and Youth find their Forever Families

Adoption is an option for over 8,000 children and youth in Ontario

November is Adoption Awareness Month in Ontario and all over the province, the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) and Children’s Aid Societies are spreading the message that all children and youth deserve to have forever families and lifelong connections they can count on.

What is a forever family?It’s a lifelong, permanent connection to an adult through adoption, legal custody, kinship care (care by a relative or someone known to the child), or customary care.Having this connection is extremely important as it provides an adult to turn to through all of life’s celebrations and challenges; it’s a safe place to come home to, and a sense of stability all of which are so important to the development of a child.Last year, more than 830 children were connected to their forever family by adoption through the public system.Over 3,000 children found permanency through legal custody, adoption, kinship care, or customary care.

There are more than 8,000 children and youth in the care of Ontario’s Children’s Aid Societies who are looking for their forever family.The majority of these children and youth are between the ages of 13 and 18, yet they represent a small percentage of those being adopted.Last year, children between 13 and 18 represented 61% of the 8,000 children needing permanent families, yet only 3.6% of these children were adopted through Ontario’s public adoption system.Regardless of their age or situation, all of these children need a permanent connection.To help support these children and youth, the government of Ontario announced subsidies to families, who adopt or become legal custodians to sibling groups, and/or youth over the age of ten years in June.Visit http://bit.ly/SVRE9z to read more about the announcement.

Some of the children needing forever families are siblings looking to stay together.For Farion and Tracy they knew they wanted to grow their family but didn’t know how special the connection to their children would be.“Although we are grateful to have each other, somehow we felt that something was missing from our lives.Like a puzzle that isn’t quite complete without the last piece.That is until we met siblings Katie and Barry.”

“Having these children to share our lives with is such a great gift.At the end of the day we want our children to know that they will always have a place where they feel safe and loved.We’ve found the piece that was missing from our puzzle,” said Farion and Tracy.

Other children needing forever families are children with special needs.For Becky and Mitchell*, adoption came as an unexpected surprise.“One of the students in a special needs class I came to work at was living in a foster home, the same home he had been living in since he was a year old.When the placement suddenly became disrupted he was abruptly moved to a new home, and his world turned upside down. David returned to school after this a very scared and confused little boy.He would make comments about just wanting a family to love him, and didn’t want to go “home”.Mitchell and I knew David had to be a part of our family.”

“Later we met Sam who has cerebral palsy.Of course, Mitchell and I couldn’t resist falling for Sam as well, and we started making inquiries about adopting him in the fall of that year.We wouldn’t change the path that led us to be the parents of these amazing people. They are happy, healthy, secure, and loved with us, and that makes all the difference to them and us.”

The Haldimand and Norfolk Children’s Aid Society is looking for people who are open to parenting special needs children, sibling groups and/or older children.“For us, adoption has always been a natural process for creating a family….Older kids are awesome, especially once they hit an age where they have distinct personalities,” said Elizabeth, adopted mother of an older child with special needs.

For more information on adoption contact The Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk at 1-888-227-5437.

The Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk (CASHN) is preparing for the second annual Radiothon and is seeking support from local businesses, organizations and the public.

The “Little Dreams, Big Dreams Radiothon” was created to raise money for the Fresh Air Fund which helps children from our communities attend camp and participate in recreational activities.

The Society is also fundraising to help community youth and youth transitioning from the Society’s care by providing bursaries to support post-secondary education at college, university or trade schools. The Society will provide a $1,000 bursary to a student from Haldimand County and a $1,000 bursary to a student from Norfolk County who plan to pursue post secondary education in social work or a related field. Such programs may include a Bachelor of Social Work Degree, Child and Youth Worker Diploma, or Social Service Worker Diploma.

The Little Dreams, Big Dreams Radiothon will be hosted by Moose FM 92.9 and transmitted live in studio and from the Caledonia Zehr’s parking lot on May 28, 2010 for a 12 hour period. The event begins during Moose FM’s morning show hosted by John Hardy at 6 a.m. Throughout the day, audiences will hear live and pre-recorded interviews with youth, staff and foster parents. The Radiothon will also feature information about The Children’s Aid Society’s programs and services and the community Fresh Air Fund.

The Society is hoping to augment this event with fundraising challenges where school classrooms and businesses can compete to win various prizes. Last year several classrooms won pizza parties courtesy of Boston Pizza. We also awarded a grand prize to business which included a promotional package worth more than $3,000.00 in radio spots, print advertising and media support. Similar prizes will be offered to businesses and organizations in 2010.

Scotiabank in Caledonia has made a commitment to match up to $5,000.00 in donations again this year. In 2009, the Radiothon raised $12,737.58. This year’s target is $20,000.00, which we hope to obtain through the renewal of last year’s sponsors and the acquisition of new sponsors this year. All money raised goes directly to children and youth.

You can also help the Society by requesting a donation collection box for your business or office. Donations will be collected prior to May 28, 2010, or you may wish to make your donation on the air during the Radiothon.

Businesses can also support the Radiothon by donating prizes to be given to radio listeners on the day of the event.

If you are interested in becoming a radio sponsor, Moose FM 92.9 in Caledonia is offering special radio packages and is seeking twelve primary sponsors for each hour of the Radiothon. Each sponsor will receive four radio ads and a live interview in their allotted time. The cost for each hour is $500.00.

Due to overwhelming interest from businesses last year, Moose FM 92.9 will be offering secondary sponsor advertising spots that will consist of four radio ads, but will not include an on air interview at a lower cost.

One hundred percent of sponsor revenue will be donated by Moose FM 92.9 to The Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk during the Radiothon. For further information regarding radio sponsorship, please contact Nancy Brown Dacko, Vice President and General Manager of Moose FM 92.9 at (298) 284-1070 (ext. 1040).

The Society is also offering select businesses the opportunity to set up their promotional tents in the Zehr’s parking lot free of charge. In return, we ask that businesses help us fund raise during the day through collection boxes, or by donating a percentage of sales proceeds to the Radiothon fundraiser.

You can belong to a community that nurtures the lives and dreams of children.

For further information about how to donate money or compete in our fundraising challenge, please contact:

The Norfolk detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police in Simcoe, have a long history of helping the community through their roles as police officers and through charity and goodwill.

As in the past, Norfolk OPP once again put smiles on the faces of children this Christmas by purchasing dozens of toys and delivering them to The Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk.

Constable Teresa Ollen-Bittle reported that helping children is particularly important to the OPP, “We have been supporting children in care of the Society for several years now through Christmas gift donations by individual officers as well as donations from associated friends and family members.”

The Society would like to acknowledge the efforts and commitments of our police officers to our communities and our children. We would further wish to extend our thanks to the individual officers and their families who donated gifts in the form of new toys, clothing or gift cards for food to children and families in need this Christmas.

The Cayuga Kinsmen have a long history of helping others and contributing to the development and well-being of their local community. This service organization has donated their Kinsmen Hall to The Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk for the Annual Child and Youth Christmas Party at no cost for the past 11 years.

Cayuga Kinsmen, Marc Smith stated the relationship began when, “It was brought to our attention that a girl in the community needed winter clothing. Through use of the Kinsmen name, Nike Canada provided a coat and boots. We felt good about helping (a child) which is who you are supposed to help at Christmas.”

Three hundred and four children, youth and foster parents attended the Child and Youth Christmas Party on November 29th, where event highlights included a magic show by Owen Anderson, arts and crafts activities and the delivery of toys by Santa and his helpers.

Mr. Smith reported that the Kinsmen and the Society have a deep-rooted connection. “In the past, Kinsmen, Brian Nyberg and Bruce Hunter have served on the Society’s Board of Directors. New member, Rob Oelkuch is a foster parent who filled in for Santa this year.”

The Kin Association in Canada have a proud 89 year history dedicated to making lifelong friendships and serving the greatest needs of their communities. Locally, the Cayuga Kinsmen were established in 1951 and is financed through its membership.

Their fundraising efforts have helped the West Haldimand General Hospital purchase equipment, constructed ball diamonds and built walkways in Cayuga. Last year, Cayuga Kinsmen raised $25,000.00 for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk thanks the Cayuga Kinsmen for nurturing the lives and dreams of children in the community.